SmokeLess States Program - Implementation

The Foundation's SmokeLess States: National Tobacco Policy Initiative is a program that supports development and implementation of comprehensive statewide strategies to reduce tobacco use through education, treatment, and policy initiatives.Statewide coalitions, working in partnership with communities, will be expected to develop and implement comprehensive tobacco prevention and control strategies that combine existing approaches known to be effective. Four essential elements to be included in the statewide strategies are: (1) mobilizing statewide coalitions; (2) public awareness campaign; (3) enhanced prevention and treatment capacity; and (4) tobacco policy development. This grant supports the Tobacco Free Delaware Program in: (1) developing a statewide, multimedia education campaign against tobacco use; (2) expanding the current coalition statewide; (3) developing youth prevention and treatment activities, including training youth to become effective peer leaders and tobacco control advocates; (4) increasing smoke-free public areas and work places; and (5) fostering changes in insurance coverage by building relationships with health care providers throughout the state. The coalition, using non-SmokeLess States funds, also will work to: (1) help reduce youth access; and (2) bring about an increase in the excise tax, with a percentage of the tax funds to be earmarked for tobacco education.